They've both promised a lot in setting goals and dealing with climate change and energy demand. Here's a succinct comparison of their positions. [Note: All statements are taken directly or rephrased from each candidate's site, unless otherwise noted.]

Cap-and-Trade Regulation

McCain

Participants will include electric power, transportation fuels, commercial and industrial businesses. Small businesses will be exempt. Participants will have the option of making their own emissions reductions or purchasing offsets. These offsets will be available via an organization established to ensure the validity of reductions. Offsets may be domestic or international. An early allocation of some permits will be allowed in order to aid in industries' transitions. "Banking" and "borrowing" of permits would be allowed so that emissions reductions may be accelerated or deferred depending on the state of the economy.

A new commission will handle recommendations pertaining to the percentage of permits that are auctioned and the percentage that are allocated for free.

Proceeds from the auctions will be used to fund advanced technologies and to help American families through the transition period.

Obama

Advocates a 100 percent auction requirement; permits will not be granted for free.

Partial revenue from these auctions will be used to support clean energy development and deployment, to increase energy efficiency and to address transition costs.

Electricity

Establish a federal renewable portfolio standard to require that 10 percent of electricity consumed in the United States is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025. 15

Set a goal of reducing electricity demand 15 percent from the Department of Energy's projected levels by 2020. States that this program will save consumers $130 billion, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 5 billion tons through 2030 and create jobs. 16

Ensure that 30 percent of the federal government's electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020.

Energy Efficient Homes and Buildings

Will apply a higher efficiency standard to federal buildings leased or purchased and will retrofit existing buildings with green technology. 31

Obama

Make all new buildings carbon neutral [producing zero emissions] by 2030 by improving new building efficiency by 50 percent and existing building efficiency by 25 percent in the next 10 years.

Sets a goal of a 40 percent increase in energy efficiency of all new federal buildings within five years. All new federal buildings will be zero emissions by 2025. Existing federal buildings will be retrofitted to achieve a 25 percent increase in energy efficiency within five years. 32

Weatherize 1 million low-income homes each year for the next decade. 33

Establish a grant program to award states and localities that take the first steps in implementing energy efficient building codes. Expand federal grant programs to help states and localities build more efficient public buildings.

Increase federal efforts for the development of plug-ins, hybrids, flex-fuel vehicles and hydrogen-powered cars and trucks. 37

Calls on automakers to make a rapid and complete switch to flex-fuel vehicles. 38

Will establish a national $300 million challenge to improve the cost, range size and weight of electric automobile batteries. 39

Issue consumer tax credits based on reductions in carbon emissions. A $5,000 tax credit will be committed to each customer who buys a zero-emissions car. Similar tax credits will be given depending on the carbon emissions of the vehicles purchased. Essentially, the lower the emissions, the higher the tax credit. 40

Invest $150 billion in the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure.

Set a goal of 2 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol in the system by 2013. Will require that 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels be in the total fuel supply by 2022, with the goal of having at least 60 billion gallons of biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel, in the system by 2030.

Develop and incent new ethanol refineries to jumpstart rural economies.

Establish a national low carbon fuel standard. Fuel suppliers must reduce the carbon in their fuels by 5 percent in five years and 10 percent in 10 years, beginning in 2010. 43

The United States will lead in technological innovation and then export it to developing countries.

Obama

Re-engage the United States with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Create Global Energy Forum, made up of the G8 plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa to complement and eventually merge with U.N. negotiations to develop a post-Kyoto framework on climate change.

Enact a windfall profits tax on top-grossing oil companies. 60Use proceeds for energy rebate: $500 for an individual or $1000 for a married couple. 61

End oil and gas industry tax breaks. 62Close the "Enron loophole," a provision that excludes some energy traders from regulations and public protections. 63

Ensure that U.S. energy futures cannot be traded on unregulated offshore exchanges. 64Work with the International Organization of Securities Commissions and other international organizations to coordinate the regulation of oil futures markets. 65

Release light oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve to immediately cut oil prices. Replace it with heavier crude oil at a later date. 66

Drill the 68 million acres of land, and the 40 million acres offshore, that oil companies currently have access to. Advocates a "use it, or lose it" policy towards federal lands leased to oil companies. 67Implement offshore drilling if it is necessary to pass a comprehensive energy plan. 68

Promote responsible oil and gas production in the following areas: the Bakken Shale in Montana and North Dakota; the Barnett Shale in Texas; the Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas; and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. 69

Energy & National Security

Iran's $66 billion from 2007 oil sales finances terrorism, threatens Israel and aids in the development of nuclear weapons. 72

"Terrorists understand the seriousness of our vulnerability. Al Qaeda plans for attacks on oil facilities in the Middle East to destroy the American economy. A little over a year ago, a suicide attack at a major Saudi Arabian oil refinery came close to disabling its target. Had it succeeded, it would have driven the world price of oil about $150 dollars a barrel -- and kept it there for a year. We're one successful attack away from an economic crisis." 73

Obama

Safeguard nuclear material as an anti-terrorism measure, both domestically and abroad.

Unless change occurs, Middle Eastern regimes will control nearly all of the world's oil by 2030. 74

"We are funding both sides in the war on terror and supporting some of the most despotic, volatile regimes in the world." 75

Lifestyle Changes

McCain

Will ask Americans to learn and practice sensible habits in homes and businesses. 29

Obama

Energy and climate change goals cannot be achieved without cost, sacrifice and the contribution of all Americans: 84 "This will not be easy. And it will not happen overnight. And if anyone tries to tell you otherwise, they're either fooling themselves or trying to fool you." 85